Press Releases

U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) announced he secured significant federal funding for two infrastructure projects in San Luis Obispo County. Projects include improvements to the Shell Beach Road shared use path and City of Morro Bay’s stormwater system. 

“Securing these federal investments is about strengthening the everyday safety and quality of life for residents across San Luis Obispo County,” said Rep. Carbajal. “Extending the Shell Beach shared use path will give residents and visitors a safer, more accessible way to move along our coastline, while Morro Bay’s storm‑drain upgrades will help protect homes and businesses from the kind of devastating flooding we’ve seen in recent years. These projects represent a step forward in ensuring San Luis Obispo County’s infrastructure is upgraded to meet the needs of the community.”

The San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) has been awarded $2,000,000 to extend the shared use path 2-miles north to the intersection of Shell Beach Road and Avila Beach Drive. The Shell Beach Road shared use path extension will improve safety for bicyclists and pedestrians, enhance local and regional mobility, and increase access to retail and commercial services, coastal access points, and trailheads along the corridor.

“We’re thrilled this multimodal pathway will provide a key regional connection through one of the most congested areas in SLO county.  It will link the new roundabout on the Avila Beach Drive & Hwy 101 intersection near the Bob Jones pathway to points south in Pismo Beach and beyond in South County,” said Pete Rodgers, Executive Director at SLOCOG.

The City of Morro Bay has been awarded $250,000 to repair and upsize storm drains, enhance resilience against floods by rerouting lines and constructing new drains. The City of Morro Bay experienced heavy flooding along its Main Street business and residential corridor on January 9, 2023, and March 10, 2023. During these storms, the City’s storm drain system failed to convey water out of the flood zone and other areas.

“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Congressman Salud Carbajal for his unwavering support and dedication to the city of Morro Bay. We are proud to announce that our city will receive $250,000 in funding aimed at crucial storm drain repairs and strengthening our resilience against future storms. This funding is vital for maintaining and improving our storm drainage system, which is essential to protecting our community from flooding and ensuring the safety of our residence. We are incredibly thankful for Congressman Carbajal‘s continued advocacy for Morro Bay. The funding underscores our commitment to building a safer and more resilient community. Thanks to his support, we can take significant steps towards safeguarding our city and improving the quality of life for all residents,” said Carla Wixom, Mayor of Morro Bay.

The funding, which Carbajal championed over the course of the past year’s federal budget negotiations, was signed into law as part of the annual government appropriations process. 

In the spring of 2025, Rep. Carbajal began to push for funding for these projects through formal requests to the House Appropriations Committee for Fiscal Year 2026.

The funding was secured through the Community Project Funding (CPF) initiative first launched in 2022. Projects must be in the public interest, be good uses of taxpayer dollars, and be certified to not conflict with the representative’s personal financial interests.